Carthage Picked to Win Fifth Straight CCIW Volleyball Title

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- The head volleyball coaches in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) picked Carthage to win its fifth straight conference title in a preseason coach’s poll conducted Friday.

The Lady Reds (33-5, 7-0 in 2007) have gone undefeated in conference regular season play during the last four seasons, and earned the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship from 2005-2007. Last season, Carthage advanced all the way to the regional final, eventually losing to 2007 national champion Washington University.

Carthage won the poll with 46 total points, including four first place votes. Augustana (22-13, 6-1) was second with 40 points, including three first place votes. Wheaton (25-9, 4-3) was third with 34 points while Illinois Wesleyan (20-17, 3-4) was fourth with 32 points. North Central (26-8, 3-4) finished fifth in the poll with 25 points, including one first place vote.

Elmhurst (14-18, 3-4), Millikin (21-14, 2-5) and North Park (13-22, 0-7) rounded out the poll with 23, 17 and seven points respectively.

Voting in the preseason poll is done by the head volleyball coaches in the CCIW. Each coach votes for the seven other schools in the conference in order of predicted finish. Points are assigned in reverse order of voting (seven points for first, six for second, etc.). Coaches may not vote for their own team.

The CCIW volleyball season begins August 29 with Elmhurst hosting its own invitational, with CCIW opponent Carthage participating as well. Millikin and Wheaton travel to the Wisconsin-Whitewater Tournament while North Central plays at the Virginia Wesleyan Tournament. North Park opens at the Wisconsin Lutheran Tournament while Illinois Wesleyan begins its season at the Birmingham Southern Tournament. Augustana travels to River Forest, Ill., for the Dominican Tournament, which begins August 30.


2008 CCIW Volleyball Preseason Poll